Basketball: Mac TA thrashes Ramat Gan

Impressive 111-65 at Nokia Arena after fiasco of State Cup final last week.

By AARON KAPLOWITZ
jp.services2 (photo credit: )
jp.services2
(photo credit: )
Maccabi Tel Aviv rebounded from its remarkable flop in last week's State Cup final with a 111-65, business-as-usual drubbing of Ironi Ramat Gan Sunday night at Nokia Arena. Maccabi's David Bluthenthal and Yotam Halperin led the victors with 18 points each in Maccabi's tune-up for Olympiacos in a Top Sixteen Euroleague contest on Wednesday. "We're in good shape," said Omri Caspi following the game. "We played together and we need to continue to play like this." Bluthenthal drained a pair of threes from each corner to open the game, as the home team raced out to a 23-5 lead and never looked back. Ramat Gan's attempts to hang with Maccabi's reserves during the second quarter proved futile as the visitors were simply outmatched. Maccabi headed to the locker room at halftime with a 25-point lead, 57-32, which it would easily extend in the second half. With 7:46 to play, Alex Garcia ignited the sparse crowd with a soaring one-handed slam on an uncontested fast-break to push the score to 96-50. For the game, Maccabi shot 64 percent from the field, knocking down 11 of 21 three-pointers. Every Maccabi player scored. Forward Jerome Beasley led Ramat Gan with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The visitors struggled on offense throughout the entire game, shooting only 38 percent from the field. They were also out-rebounded 44-28. The 46-point victory seemed to be the best remedy for Maccabi following its State Cup loss to Hapoel Jerusalem, a game in which Maccabi blew a 22-point second half lead. In other BSL action, Ironi Nahariya trounced Ironi Ashkelon, 91-67, behind Otis Hill's 19 points. In the night's closest game, Bnei Hasharon used a 13-0 second quarter run to put away Hapoel Afula, 81-68, in Ra'anana. Ousmane Cisse fueled the victory with 16 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Meir Tapiro also had a solid game with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. With the victory, Bnei HaSharon moved into second place in the BSL standings.